Which court has original jurisdiction in the federal system?

• A. U.S. Supreme Court
• B. Circuit Court of Appeals
• C. State Courts
• D. District Court

Answer: (D)

Original jurisdiction means the court where a case is heard for the first time, with evidence taken and facts decided. In the federal system, that role belongs to the district courts. They are the federal trial courts that handle most federal criminal and civil cases from start to finish. The Circuit Courts of Appeals don’t hear cases first; they review decisions from district courts. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction only in a narrow set of cases specified by the Constitution, and most federal matters reach it only after passing through the district and circuit levels. So, the court with original jurisdiction is the federal district court.